Factors affecting aerosol production from a modified sinclair-la mer aerosol generator

A systematic study was made of the aerosol output from a Sinclair-LaMer aerosol generator incorporating a modified nuclei source, a polydisperse aqueous aerosol. This system makes monodisperse aerosols with biologically active nuclei and can be used in studies of lung physiology. Using radiolabelled nuclei and cascade impaction we found that aerosols were generated in keeping with the same concepts that apply to the classic Sinclair-LaMer system. That is, a balance exists between the amount of oil vapor and the number of nuclei in the system, and that this balance influences the size and distribution of the aerosol particles. The influence of boiler temperature (T-B), reheater temperature (T-R), gas flow (V), and solute concentration (SC) on aerosol particle size, distribution, and concentration was studied. We found that when monodisperse, T-B, T-R, V, and SC did not significantly affect distribution but did affect particle size. Aerosols produced under conditions of oil vapor or nuclei excess were also characterized. When nuclei were in overabundance (low T-B,T-R; high V, SC) the aerosol was polydisperse but concentration was unaffected. With excess oil vapor (high T-B, T-R; low V, SC) the polydisperse distribution was associated with a marked increase in concentration due to autocoagulation.